Saturday, 13 March 2010
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School Cancels Prom to Avoid Same Sex Couple: Would You Do the Same?
Constance McMillen just wants to go to the prom. She, like so many other high school seniors, has likely looked forward to the moment for quite some time, preparing and planning for the occasion. Only one detail differentiates McMillen from the majority of high school girls – she is gay.
According to officials of the Itawamba County School District in Mississippi, same-sex couples are prohibited from participating in the annual prom. When McMillen, with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, challenged the policy, the district took a very drastic measure to avoid the issue; it cancelled the upcoming prom, encouraging the public to instead organize a private event.
“Due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events,” a statement from the school district read, “the Itawamba County School District has decided to not host a prom at Itawamba Agricultural High School this year.”
The announcement came as a shock to McMillen, who articulated her reaction in a USA Today article, saying, “That's really messed up because the message they are sending is that if they have to let gay people go to prom that they are not going to have one.... A bunch of kids at school are really going to hate me for this."
In a turn of events not at all surprising, the ACLU has filed suit against the school board, claiming McMillen's right to choose her prom date – male or female – is protected by the Constitution. The issue is, however, dividing the local community. While some feel the school board had the moral high ground, others think the board's views are outdated and disrespectful to those who live a homosexual lifestyle.
From a Christian perspective, one has to take into consideration the fact that not all people agree that homosexuality is wrong or sinful. While our faith may not condone the lifestyle, that isn't to say that governmental or educational institutions should abide by the Bible's standards. Christians need to further understand that condemnation does not encourage repentance.
A fellow Xangan put it well in his post on the subject:
Discriminating against and persecuting people isn't going to lead them to repentance or to faith in Christ, instead it just alienates them and takes away their dignity and humanity.
Would you have made a similar choice if you were on the school board? Did the school board go too far to avoid the situation, or did they make the right decision based on the policies already in place?
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Comments (35)
Discriminating against and persecuting people isn't going to lead
them to repentance or to faith in Christ, instead it just alienates them
and takes away their dignity and humanity.
That guy sure is smart!
I just can't get past the fact that there are so many people (on both sides) willing to fight over prom.
@MagisterTom@xanga - he IS a bright guy -imma go find him and say hi...
2010 A.D. Oh, I'm sorry-it is still BC, thereabouts.
People really care that much about prom?
@PeriwinkleAdonis@xanga - it isn't necessarily about prom in this case, more so the fact that they couldn't just chill out and let this girl wear a tux (because girls obviously cannot wear pants or anything. dresses only) and take her girlfriend to prom. it's turned into a case of discrimination because they cancelled prom over it, which is the bigger problem here...
@rawrchicken@xanga - Yes, I get it. I didn't think people would waste time making discriminating rules, like no same-sex couples allowed, at such an insignificant event though.
discrimination doesn't seem very christ like
I'm of the mind that advocating or allowing homosexuality in any instance is not good. But it SEEMS to me that this is not so much a moral issue as it is one of discrimination, as was said.
I fully adhere to the Biblical standard against homosexuality. But I am not about to say to any gay/lesbian couple, "Get out, we don't want to see you 'do your thang'." Why? Because this is a matter in which people come to celebrate together: the them is the final two years of high school. Does a gay couple violate the theme of prom? No. Does homosexuality violate the theme of morality, yes. Would it be nice to see morality observed in all its glory? Of course. But to deny those girls a chance to go to their high school prom does not show any accemptance of the persons...it only points the finger, saying, "SINNER!"
To the school board: Whether any of you are Christians are not, I am ashamed of you. I would have hoped that educated individuals would be able to distinguish between the issues. I guess not in this case.
@Pcgecko85@xanga - Yeah, basically because it's not.
yikes its PROM! We didn't even go to prom the year I graduated because 4 friends had been killed the year before by drunk drivers. (all 4 were sober, two limo drivers were not, and the other two were adults). So we boycotted prom for a year and had a bush party instead.
Still.. I don't know why this is even an issue! I know girls who wore pantsuits to prom, and I know guys who have worn skirts (yeesh don't ask me about that one.. too weird).
And I am Christian, but I just do not see the big deal about homosexuality. Its not like its something we can fix or cure.. so why don't we step off that mountain, band together with the gays, and together fix what is really broken in the world?
i don't advocate or even condone homosexuality by any means, but this is discriminatory and also a huge overreaction of the school to cancel the prom because of ONE gay couple. connie has every right to sue.
i applaud this girl for standing up for what she believes in.
I think it's absolutely ridiculous that they canceled prom because a gay couple wanted to go. Love is Love. Love has no Gender. If they cancelled prom because of that, then why don't they cancel prom for a black & white couple wanting to go together, It's discrimination.
She's a strong woman for standing up to ignorant superiors. I hope she gets to go to Prom with her girlfriend, and I hope she has a fabulous time.
This whole story, along with the administrators of this school, completely sicken me.
@PeriwinkleAdonis@xanga - ahhh. okay. :) i don't get that either...
Yay discrimination is being seen again. Please note my sarcasm. This is ridiculous. What are folks so afraid of?
p
I'm not Christian. And neither did I grow up in the US. But what I don't understand about the whole situation is why does it matter so much who you go with? If two guys or two girls without opposite sex dates had wanted to go together as friends, no one would have raised a stink about it. But she wants to go with another girl and this girl happens to be her romantic partner and suddenly prom is getting canceled over it. A lot of the heterosexual prom couples aren't actually dating, and no one asks them if they're dating or just friends. So why should it be any different for two girls going together? I think prom should be a fun party celebrating the end of the year in high school. When there's too much emphasis on who goes with who, it ruins some of that fun because there's too much pressure. If there wasn't so much emphasis on people having dates, no one would care if these girls showed up at prom together and it would be just another fun high school party.
Time for a New School Board.... Sounds a little Harper Valley PTA, if you ask most intelligent people, but then again, it IS the south...
this is 100% bullshit.
but i guess public schools violate so many other constitutional rights, why not violate this one too?
I wonder if any members of the school board have even seen a high school dance. If the dances down there are anything like the ones I've seen, a same-sex couple is less disturbing BY FAR than some of the things that go on there. When the heck did dancing devolve into dry humping anyone within range? It's sick. Kudos to Constance for fighting this!
@shpadoinkle12@xanga - I agree, I can't tell you how many of them have sex under tables. Atleast that is hidden, the booty grinding is the worst. That's just gross. Guys walking around the dance floor with boners.
Also, do you know how many STRAIGHT girls dance with their friends!? I know I do, it's just for fun. I don't care how much they try to stop same sex couples in a dance, I bet they are just going to go with a friend as a date, and then find their right partner later. That's what I would do. That's what anyone should do in that situation. Maybe have a GSA meeting and everyone have a "dance partner". Why are adults so ignorant sometimes?
Why are schools being run by people who can't figure out how to seperate CHURCH FROM STATE? This is exactly why I stopped going to church, because of the close/narrow-minded people who can't accept differences and enforce their beliefs on others instead of living peacefully. The schoolboard should be ashamed of their actions! All the girl wanted to do was go to prom and have fun. I hope that this girl wins her case.
I think they really over-reacted and did something not far removed, whether it was their intention or not, from encouraging a hate crime. I seriously hope that nothing bad happens to either of those girls, now that an entire school (if not an entire community or larger area) could be blaming them for the cancellation of what is likely the most looked-forward-to event of the school year.
Props to the Itawamba County School District in Mississippi. I hope they stand their ground in not letting this girl make a mockery of their event.